If your chuckle muscles need a good work out, fear not, as the Liverpool Comedy Festival opens in two weeks’ time!

The annual Liverpool Comedy Festival launched in fine style at The Old Blind School on Wednesday night with over 100 comedians and movers and shakers in attendance. The festival officially opens on Friday 18th September and will run until Sunday 4 October, taking over Britain’s funniest city with events at venues across the city region.

This year’s festival will see some of the biggest names on the comedy circuit, including Chatty Man himself Alan Carr. He performs his brand new show Yap Yap at Liverpool Philharmonic and has now added an extra date due to overwhelming demand, plus also at The Phil is the star of Phoenix Nights and That Peter Kay Thing Dave Spikey with his latest tour Punchlines.

The big names continue, as the Unity Theatre welcomes political satirist Andy Zaltzman and the legendary Jeremy Hardy. British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti with the help of Monkey, present her new show In Your Face at Liverpool Playhouse. At The Epstein Theatre Only Fools and Horses’ Boycie, one of the nation’s greatest comedy actors John Challis will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career; and as seen on 8 out of 10 cats, Dave’s One Night Stand, Spoons and John Bishop’s Only Joking, Rob Rouse presents his new show Roboscopy.

Yearlong comedy clubs Laughterhouse Comedy, Hot Water Comedy Club, Comedy Central and Liverpool Comedy Cellar also present a high calibre of comedy talent across the festival including Live at the Apollo star Shappi Khorsandi; stand-up and BBC2 sitcom Hebburn star Steffen Peddie; Liverpool legend Pauline Daniels; one of the best performers working on the comedy circuit today Dan Nightingale and presenter of Channel 4’s The Word, Terry Christian bringing his one man show Naked Confessions of a Recovering Catholic, plus many more.

81 Renshaw Street will also showcase a whole host of the freshest performers and exciting local and up-and-coming comedy acts including Gein’s Family Giftshop returning after their Foster’s Best Newcomer Nomination at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe; festival favourite Jake Mills; Funny Women finalist and BBC Radio 4 regular Rosie Wilby; left-wing political comedy from the all new unwilling poster child for free speech Kate Smurthwaite; Merseyside funny man John Wilson follows up last year’s Comedy Festival success with his new, laugh out loud, one man show; join Rob Thomas and Katie Tracey as they take you through their average lives which they’ve spent trying to be fabulous; in 1989 Public Enemy decreed that Elvis was racist, now Che Burnley tries to prove power, money and privilege makes it alright; Perrier and Chortle Award winning musical comedian with songs in the key of grrr, Christian Reilly presents Songs of Insolence. Just the tip of the comedy iceberg, check out the full line-up of acts to perform in Liverpool’s newest arts and events venue.

Throughout the run of the festival John Godber’s classic and hilarious show Bouncers is at The Royal Court from 4 September – 3 October. It’s 1985 and Ralph, Les, Judd and Lucky Eric are on the doors of The Grafton. They’re not doormen or security operatives – they’re bouncers and they’ve seen it all. Lads full of lager, girls full of giggles and clubs full of crazy stories in this brilliantly funny show.

There will be acts lined-up to perform in bars, shops, schools and even people’s houses. There is also comedy coach tours, kids shows, pub crawls, poets, podcasts, open mic nights, quizzes, magicians, networking events, rap battles, plays and sketch groups.

Festival Director Sam Avery from The Comedy Trust said:

“This year is our biggest and most diverse Festival to date: more shows than ever before and a strong emphasis on the hugely exciting local scene alongside the household names and international acts.”

The festival will take over Liverpool with events taking place at an impressive 19 venues across the city region including 81 Renshaw Street; Unity Theatre; The Royal Court; The Lantern Theatre; The Pilgrim; Laughterhouse Comedy; Liverpool Comedy Central; Hot Water Comedy Club; Liverpool Comedy Cellar; The Epstein Theatre; Ma Egerton’s Stage Door; Maghull Town Hall; Liverpool Philharmonic; Liverpool Playhouse; Ma Boyles; The Sandon; Brownmoor Park Sports and Social Club; Gallaghers Pub and Liverpool John Moores University.

Don’t miss one of Liverpool’s favourite and longest-standing festivals, the Liverpool Comedy Festival from Friday 18th September – Sunday 4th October.

Visit www.Liverpoolcomedyfestival.com for full line-up, information and direct links to book tickets

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